Gretchen recommends "Every Tom, Dick & Harry"

I look forward to each new novel by Elinor Lipman.  This funny romantic comedy exposes small town crushes, criminality, and clandestine rendezvous at a B&B that doubled as a brothel in this feel good love story.  As in her past novels, Lipman’s writing style is uniquely her own.  She is a keen observer of modern life and the human condition.  Emma Lewis is taking over her retiring parents’ estate sale business.  Her most daunting and potentially lucrative clients are the owners of a mansion that had a shady side hustle in its past. What ensues with the estate sale is pure charm for adults.

 

Uma recommends “The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking"

The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking by Mel Robbins and Sawyer Robbins is a transformative and empowering read that offers a refreshing perspective on emotional well-being. The core message — "Let Them" — encourages readers to stop trying to control others and focus on protecting their own peace. This practical, easy-to-read guide is packed with wisdom, providing a simple yet effective tool for overcoming overthinking and managing stress. Uplifting and insightful, it's perfect for anyone feeling overwhelmed by others' expectations or seeking more clarity and balance in today's fast-paced world. A must-read for anyone looking to reclaim their emotional freedom and live with more clarity and less stress.

Adult

 

 

 

Phil recommends Armchair Travel Double Feature

I love a good armchair travel audiobook for my workday commute.  These two true story adventures, available through Libby (and in print), were fun, low stress listening:

“On the Hippie Trail” by Rick Steves.  There is something about travel guru Rick Steves’ voice and cadence that lowers my blood pressure.  If you are familiar with his excellent travel videos then you already know what I mean.  Before Rick Steves built his extensive travel book/video/tour company empire, he was just a young 23 year old backpacker on a shoestring budget, journeying from Istanbul to Kathmandu.  Fortunately he kept a diary and Steves, now 70, reads from this journal in his trademark style.  His formative journey through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal are full of ups and downs but his optimism and sense of wonder always remain intact.  Steves has a knack for describing the sights, tastes, and experiences of world cultures and it is easy to see from this travelogue how his talents would eventually become his life’s work.

“Nala’s World” by Dean Nicholson.  Like Steves in “On the Hippie Trail”, Nicholson is a young man traveling on a tight budget across numerous countries.  The twist here is that Nicholson travels by bicycle and picks up a stray cat along the way, Nala, and soon becomes a social media sensation.  From Montenegro, to Greece, to Turkey, and beyond, Nicholson relays his adventures and many challenges resulting from taking on this feline passenger, all the while coming to terms with his newfound status as an Instagram celebrity.  Nicholson is Scottish and audiobook narrator Angus King (also Scottish) is an absolute delight to listen to.

Rick Steves’ book describes instances of drug use and is appropriate for adults.  Nicholson’s book is for adults but I think that cat lovers of all ages would enjoy it.

Meghan recommends Audie Award winners

Summer means road trips, and for many that also means audiobooks! The Audio Publisher’s Association honors the best of audiobooks published in the last year, and many of these recordings are available through the Clinton-Macomb Public Library. Click here for the list of CMPL’s holdings that were nominated for Audie Awards this year.

Do you have a long trip coming up? Barbra Streisand’s memoir took the top prize as Audiobook of the Year – it may also be the longest, clocking in at a whopping 48 hours!

If you’re looking for celebrity backstories that are a little shorter, try From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough, narrated by Julia Roberts and Riley Keough, which runs a manageable six hours.

The audio version of the Pulitzer Prize winner, James by Percival Everett, shows up on the list, as well as perennial favorite authors like Lucy Foley, Karin Slaughter, Kristin Hannah, Stephen Graham Jones and Erik Larsen. There are stories for all ages and interests.

Do you need assistance getting set up to listen to audiobooks on your phone? Stop in to see a librarian; we’re happy to help! (And remember, audiobooks are books, and listening counts towards your summer reading goals!)

Andrea recommends "Cat's People"

What do a barista who moonlights as a cat rescuer, a bodega owner who recently lost his wife, an author struggling with writer's block, a young woman looking for family, and a mailman trying to find his path in life have in common? In Tanya Guerrero's Cat's People it's their love for a street-smart cat that brings this motley crew together.

Being a cat lover myself, this book immediately caught my eye, and I think anybody who's ever shared a special bond with a pet will love this one. It will warm your heart, make you cry (in a good way), and remind you that connection can sometimes be found where you least expect it.

This book is suitable for adults.

Meghan recommends "Ink Blood Sister Scribe"

 

When she was 18, Esther’s father sent her away from her childhood home, telling her she must spend no more than one year in the same place, and to leave every year on the same date. Ten years later, her parents have divorced, her father has died, and her sister (who doesn’t know the real reason Esther left home) misses her terribly, but also feels terribly betrayed by her. This year Esther decides not to run away from the place she’s called home for the last year. Her decision triggers a series of events that leads her to a mysterious person beyond a mirror, a sheltered British magician, a Boston-bred bodyguard, and finally to her sister back home.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe is a light fantasy novel that challenges its characters to confront family secrets and defy the status quo. Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down! While voracious readers may guess some of the twists, having an idea where the book was heading didn’t detract from my enjoyment at all.

As Kirkus reviews wrote, “Törzs’ simple magic system of books is straightforward, with clear rules set out for readers early on, leaving her plenty of space to explore how an obsession with power can twist people so deeply that they betray the ones they love. Esther and Joanna’s complicated but loving relationship is wonderfully rendered, and Törzs pulls off such an expert series of twists that readers would be advised to cancel their plans until they get to the end.”

Recommended for adults and older teens.

 

 

Phil recommends "Box Office Poison: Hollywood's Story in a Century of Flops"

 

There is something endlessly entertaining about stories of Hollywood hubris and excess turning into spectacular failure. Tim Robey begins with the early days of Hollywood, including D.W. Griffith’s grandiose financial flop Intolerance, and takes us through a century of multi-million dollar disasters like Dr. Dolittle (1967), Dune (1984), The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Cutthroat Island, Speed 2: Cruise Control, and many more.  Robey essentially performs an autopsy on each, telling the story of how such projects came to be in the first place…and why they failed in such dramatic fashion.  Unlike similarly-themed podcasts like How Did This Get Made?, Robey eschews the overtly comedic approach but instead lets the inherently compelling subject matter speak for itself.

 

This book is appropriate for adults.

Rion recommends "Moon of the Turning Leaves"

           

 Over a decade after complete collapse of all societal systems, residents of Shki-dnakiiwin, a small community of Anishinaabe people in Northern Canada, have noticed that the land they are living on is starting to run out of the ability to provide for them. When an elder has a vision of returning to their ancestral homelands around the Great Lakes, a group of six community members, including Evan Whitesky and his daughter, Nangohns, are sent on a scouting trip to assess the land and journey it would take to go home. Along the way, they pass through ransacked cities and encounter other survivors of the collapse, some friendly, and others dangerous. The group’s survival skills and commitment to finding their homeland are constantly put to the test, and the conclusion to the book is both satisfying and touching.

This book evoked so many feelings in me - fear, appreciation for nature, and love for the characters and some of the communities they encounter. While it is technically a sequel, it also functions as a stand-alone book, and having read both, I recommend it over Moon of the Crusted Snow (the first book in the duology). The plot moved at a consistent pace and I found myself wondering about what was next for the characters whenever I put the book down – the sign of being immersed in a very absorbing story! The use of Anishinaabemowin (the Anishinaabe language) throughout the book was beautiful, and the entire story is a testament to the resilience of indigenous communities through the most difficult of times. I highly recommend Moon of the Turning Leaves!

Age group: Adult

 

Uma recommends “Gentle: Rest More, Stress Less, and Live the Life You Actually Want”

"Gentle: Rest More, Stress Less, and Live the Life You Actually Want by Courtney Carver is a refreshing guide to slowing down and prioritizing what truly matters. Carver emphasizes the importance of rest, self-care, and intentional living to reduce stress and create a more fulfilling life. Through personal stories and practical advice, she offers simple, actionable steps for living with less anxiety and more joy. The book encourages readers to embrace simplicity, let go of perfectionism, and find balance in their daily routines. It's a gentle, uplifting read for anyone looking to live a more peaceful, authentic life."

Adult

 

 

Martin recommends "Unromance"

Sawyer Greene is a bestselling romance author who is taking a break from love. After connecting physically with actor Mason West, a hopeless romantic,  she agrees to allow him to help her with her writer’s block. Still, she is firm in that she does not want to start a relationship with him. Despite a foolproof plan, once set in motion some plots simply cannot be stopped. Are they heading towards a happy ending?

Romance is not my usual genre of choice, but the cover to Unromance attracted me. Erin Connor’s writing on this, her debut novel, quickly pulled me in and kept me reading.

Adult Fiction - Romance

Uma recommends "The Little Liar"

The Little Liar by Mitch Albom tells the story of Nico Krispis, a young boy in Nazi-occupied Greece who is tricked into helping send his fellow Jews to Auschwitz. Nico, who has never lied before, is deeply affected by his actions and becomes a compulsive liar. The novel follows Nico's journey and his search for redemption, along with his brother Sebastian and their friend Fanni, who survive the camps and try to find Nico years later.  The book explores themes of lies, survival, guilt, and forgiveness, with the voice of Truth guiding the story.

It's a powerful, emotional tale about how lies can shape lives and the possibility of healing, even after betrayal.

Adult

 

 

Kara recommends "Joe Nuthin's Guide to Life"

Joe relies on his mother for advice in life. He doesn't always know society's expectations but he knows how to follow rules and is good at his job. His mother is writing notebooks to help guide him, but he will soon find his life is about to do the one thing he dislikes the most - change.

Read this book and you'll immediately love Joe. He's such a great character and you get to see him learn and grow through the friendships he develops along the way.  He's genuinely trying to be a good person and love his life. His goal is to show everyone what his mother knows, that he has not a mean bone in his body. And as readers we see it's true as he helps those that others may not see as deserving.

This is a heartwarming story of friendship, empathy, courage, acceptance and understanding. 

Rion recommends "Circe"

 

Circe is a wonderfully imaginative exploration of the Greek mythical nymph Circe, who, after discovering and using her powers as an herbal sorceress, is banished to an island to live alone for eternity. As she grows to love her island, she encounters a myriad of seafaring men seeking shelter (and sometimes more) upon her shores. The story follows her revenge upon men who abuse her as well as her relationship with Odysseus (about whom The Odyssey was written) and the birth of her son. 

 

Having recently finished The Song of Achilles, a queer reimagining of the story of Achilles and Patroclus also by Madeline Miller, I was eager to read Circe and dig more into the realm of Greek mythology. This book did not disappoint. It was at turns frightening, inspiring, and gut-wrenching, and I found myself enraptured by the tales Miller weaved throughout the book. The island on which Circe was banished, Aiaia, was drawn in such detail that I felt I could smell the salty ocean air and see the verdant forests and fields clearly in my mind’s eye. I recommend this book both for people who love Greek mythology and those who know little to none about it (such as myself). This is an excellent story about a woman finding her place in the world and coming into a true understanding both of her power and of the joys and tragedies of being human. 

 

Phil recommends "The Lives of Brian: A Memoir"

Last year, the hard rockin’ Australian band AC/DC turned 50 and in April 2025, they will return to Detroit on what will likely be their final tour. AC/DC has had their ups and downs but they have always persevered. Their lowest point was in February, 1980 when, on the verge of superstardom in the US, their lead singer Bon Scott tragically passed away at the age of 33. The band’s survival was uncertain and building on the success of their chart topping Highway to Hell album seemed unimaginable unless they could again find lightning in a bottle with a new singer.

Enter Brian Johnson, a blue collar working man from northern England with a talent for fixing cars – and a set of lungs made for rock & roll. Fortunately, his modest local success with the band Georgie caught the attention of several members of AC/DC – and he was called in for an audition. The rest is history and his first album with the band, Back in Black, became one of the bestselling rock albums of all time. The “Lives of Brian” tells Johnson’s story, from his very modest beginnings in a working class town to his first forays into singing for local rock bands to his life-changing moment when one of the most successful and enduring rock bands of all time gave him the opportunity of a lifetime. The autobiography is bookended with the singer’s personal struggles with hearing loss. Johnson is an up-beat guy, very humble, and a natural storyteller.

This book is appropriate for adults.